Valve for use in gas fueled cigarette lighters

ABSTRACT

A combined refill and burner valve assembly comprises a main outer cylindrical body including a discharge nozzle cylinder in the upper portion thereof, an adjusting member of porous material under said discharge nozzle cylinder, a regulating tubular means being in rotatably threaded connection with the inner side of said main outer cylindrical body and being in resilient contact with said adjusting member in the tip portion thereof, said regulating tubular means having a valve member adapted to serve as a filling valve in its lower portion near to an opening accommodated to receive a connecting tube of a fuel charging container.

United States Patent [151 3,705,785

Goto [4 1 Dec. 12, 1972 VALVE FOR USE IN GAS FUELED Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr.

CIGARETTE LIGHTERS Attorney-James E. Armstrong and Harold C. Wegner [72] Inventor: Kenjiro Goto, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Mansei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaishya,

Kawaguchi-shi, Japan 5 7] ABSTRACT A combined refill and burner valve assembly com- [22] Filed 1971 prises a main outer cylindrical body including a [2i 1 App]. No.: 133,889 discharge nozzle cylinder in the upper portion thereof,

an adjusting member of porous material under said discharge noule cylinder, a regulating tubular means [30] Foreign Applicamm Pnomy Data being in rotatably threaded connection with the inner April 14, 1970 Japan ..4s/035913 Side Of Said main Outer cylindrical y and being in resilient contact with said adjusting member in the tip 52 us. Cl. ..431/344 431/150 222/3 hemf, said regulating tubular means havir'g 41/18 a valve member adapted to serve as a filling valve in [51] lm Cl F23! 13/04 its lower portion near to an opening accommodated to [58] Field lso 344. receive a connecting tube of a fuel charging container.

[56] References Cited 6 Chums 2 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,184,931 5/l965 Yoshino ..222/3 X PNENTEDDEC I 2 m2 3. 705. 785 sum 1 or 2 FIG I INVENTOR KENURO GOTO BY WA ZI/ ATTORNEY PA'TEN'YEI'IMI: 1-2 1912 3 705, 7 85 saw a or 2 O4 INVENTOR KENJIRO soro BY wmmn VALVE FOR USE IN GAS FUELED CIGARETTE LIGHTERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a valve means for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter, and more particularly, to a valve means which combines a refill valve with a burner valve. As well known, a gas fueled cigarette lighter is generally installed with such assemblies as a burner valve assembly adapted to issue the fuel gas stored in a fuel reservoir tank, a fuel metering assembly for controlling the flowing gas from said fuel reservoir tank to said burner valve assembly and a refill valve assembly used for charging gas into said fuel reservoir tank. Consequently, according to conventional structures of gas fueled cigarette lighters, the abovementioned assemblies are settled separately in a gas fueled cigarette lighter causing the free space in a fuel reservoir tank which is filled with gas to be diminished. On the other hand, the kind of united valve means for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter has been heretofore disclosed with various structures of the said means. But none of the abovementioned attempts satisfies completely the requirements of a gas fueled cigarette lighter in terms of simplicity, stability, safety and economics. For example, a fuel metering assembly (to control the height of the flame) and an outwardly operating means thereof have been installed on the upper section of the burner valve assembly which includes a burner valve member adapted to be connected to a refill gas container. But the design of this valve assembly makes it dangerous and difficult for the user to control the height of the flame during operation because the hands of the user must be put near the flame to be adjusted. Consequently, it is preferable to install the above-described outwardly operating means of the fuel metering assembly in such a structure that the means may be operated from the underside of a gas fueled cigarette lighter. The present invention incorporates this advantageous approach thereby yielding a safe and conveniently-operated lighter having a maximized fuel storage capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A combined refill and burner valve in accordance with the present invention comprises a main outer cylindrical body extending through a fuel reservoir tank and secured on the upper and lower walls defining the fuel reservoir tank, a discharge nozzle cylinder located on the upper portion of the main outer cylindrical body, an adjusting member of porous material inter posed in the middle section of the main outer cylindrical body and which includes a valve member being telescopically movable. In this means, the movable valve member normally prevents leakage of the gas charged in the fuel reservoir tank and is removed from a seat provided on the inner tubular means upon application of a connector from a filling gas container in order to add fuel gas to the fuel reservoir tank. The inner tubular means accommodating the valve member serves as a flame height controlling member when rotated upon the threaded engagement to alter the compression of a porous adjusting member positioned in the middle section of the main outer cylindrical body.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to diminish the abovementioned drawbacks of the conventional combined refill and burner valve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide complete reliability of a combined refill and burner valve, whereby the height of the flame is positively controlled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined refill and burner valve, wherein the interior space of a conventional burner valve may be put to greater storage.

A still further object is to provide a superior combined refill and burner valve of simple construction, whereby it may be easily operated by hand to change the rate of the gas fuel flowing through the adjusting member in direct abutment with a flame regulating tubular means.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will further become apparent hereinafter and in accompanying the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of embodiment of a combined refill and burner valve constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a combined refill and burner valve constructed according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to FIG. 1 showing a preferred embodiment selected to illustrate a combined refill and burner valve in accordance with the present invention, a fuel reservoir tank adapted to contain a fuel gas is shown generally by numeral 1 and has a bottom wall la and an upper wall lb both defining said fuel reservoir tank 1 through which a main outer cylindrical body 2 extends. The said main outer cylindrical body 2 abuts in the lower part 2a thereof against said bottom wall la of said fuel reservoir tank 1 through a gasket 3 and is, in the upper part 2b thereof, secured through a packing 4 on said upper wall lb by means of a burner sleeve 5 provided with an interior screwthreaded portion 5a in threaded connection with the upper part 2b of said main outer cylindrical body 2. Said burner sleeve 5 functions to tightly fix said main outer cylindrical body 2 between said walls 1a, 1b of said fuel reservoir tank 1. Located in the upper section of said main outer cylindrical body 2 is a discharge nozzle cylinder 6 which is always biased in the upward direction by a spring 7 having one end mounted on said main outer cylindrical body 2 and the other, on a boss 8 of said discharge noz zle cylinder 6. Said discharge cylinder 6 terminates beyond said burner sleeve 5 and has a longitudinally axial bore 6a crossing at a right angle a side opening 9 formed on a side wall of said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 and extending to the downward end, which is bordered by a resilient member 10 of rubber or the like. Said resilient member 10 contacts a top plate 11 prepared on said main outer cylindrical body 2 to close a bore 12, formed on said top plate 11 and communicating the interior of said fuel reservoir tank 1 with the atmosphere, when said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 is in its lower position by downwardly pushing action of a snufi'er cap 23 shown in an alternate long and two short dashes line. In the upper position of said discharge nozzle cylinder 6, a ring 13 is fitted on the confines of said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 so as to seal a clearance 14 between said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 and said burner sleeve 5. Mounted in abutment on the inner side of said top plate 11 is an adjusting member 15 of porous material. Said adjusting member 15 is provided on both upper and lower surfaces 15a, 15b thereof with mesh screens 16, 17, one of which is in contact with an inner side of said top plate 11 and the other with a regulating means 18 positioned in said main outer cylindrical body 2. Said regulating means 18 is fixed with an operating section 19in rigid relation with the top portion thereof and also provided a portion 18b being in threaded engagement with threads 20 of said main outer cylindrical body 2. The said operating section 19 has a longitudinal opening 21 over its full length. Further said regulating means 18 has a valve member 22 downwardly of said operating section 19 and besides has in the middle section between said valve member 22 and said operating section 19 a spring 34 urging said valve member 22 in an outward direction. Said valve member 22, installed in said regulating means 18, is formed with two parts 24, 25 of different dimensions and is provided in close relation with a sealing ring 26 in a concave 27 formed on the periphery between said relatively larger and smaller diameter parts 24, 25 of said movable valve member 22. The said relatively smaller part 25 extends outwardly in a passage 28 defined by a protrusion 29 inwardly protruding from said regulating means 18. Said protrusion 29 has a portion 30 to form a seat for said sealing ring 26 which is in relative cooperation with said regulating means 18. When said sealing ring 26 is in such a position that it is brought into closed relation against said seat 30 by action of said spring 34, it interdiets the outward flow to the atmosphere of the fuel gas passing through fuel flowing openings 31, 32 formed, respectively, on said main outer cylindrical body 2 and said regulating means 18. These abovementioned openings 31, 30 have an additional function to forward the fuel gas to said longitudinally axial bore 8 of said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 when a gas fueled cigarette lighter is operated by the user. Shown by numeral 33 is a packing forming a sealing conjunction between said regulating tubular means 18 and said main outer cylindrical body 2.

Upon application of a connecting tube of a conventional fuel charging container (not shown) into said passage 28, said movable valve member 22 is forced inwardly to a predetermined extent and said sealing ring 26 is released from closing engagement with said seat 30 to induce open communication between said fule reservoir tank 1 and said fuel charging container. Simultaneously, the fuel gas in said fuel charging container is introduced into said fuel reservoir tank. When fueling is complete said connecting tube of said fuel charging container is removed from filling engagement with said passage 28 and said movable valve member 22 is returned to the original sealing position by a spring 34 to shut off the communication of said fuel reservoir tank 1 to the atmosphere.

Further, the fuel gas stored in said fuel reservoir tank 1 is omitted through openings 31, 32, the interior of said regulating means 18 an adjusting member 15, and opening 9, from said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 which is in cooperative condition with said snuffer cap, when said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 is forced to its upper position by said spring 7 when snuffer cap 23 is released from its depressing engagement with said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 by operating actions of the users hand.

If a change in the flame (or gas flow) is desired, said regulating means 18 is rotated upon the thread engagement with said main outer cylindrical body 2 thereby effecting a pressure change on said adjusting member 15. The subsequent or simultaneous fuel gas flow is then correspondingly modified by such a pressure alteration. Turned in a clockwise direction, said regulating tubular means 18 with said adjusting member 15 moves forward to compress said porous adjusting member 15, whereby the height of the flame is positively reduced as desired. lf turned in a counter-clockwise direction, said regulating tubular means 18 with said adjusting member 15 moves backward from its initial compressing position to the position of comparatively small pressure application, whereby the height of the flame at said discharge nozzle cylinder 6 is increased.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, illustrating a combined refill and burner valve constructed according to the present invention, a fuel reservoir tank designated by numeral 101 is defined by an upper wall 101a and a bottom wall l01b. Said fuel reservoir tank 101 has a main outer cylindrical body 102 extending longitudinally from said upper wall 1010 to said bottom wall 10112 of said fuel reservoir tank 101 and an upper portion 102a secured through a packing 103 on said upper wall 101a of said fuel reservoir tank 101 and a lower portion l02b secured through the gasket 104 to said bottom wall l0lb by threaded engagement with an inner threaded screw ring 105. A nozzle cylinder 106 in said upper portion 1020 of said main outer cylindrical body 102 is formed with an axial bore 108 to communicate with a side opening 108 in sidewalls of said nozzle cylinder 106. Said nozzle cylinder 106 has a peripheral flange 109 protruding outwardly from a bottom end of said nozzle cylinder 106 and forming a seat for a spring 110. Said spring 110 is arranged between said peripheral flange 109 and alarninated circular ring 111, made of metal, synthetic resin or the like. The ring 1 11 is disposed under an inner annular insert 1 12 being in fixed relation with said upper portion 102a of said main outer cylindrical body 102. Thus the spring 110 exerts downward force to said nozzle cylinder 106. The aforementioned inner annular insert 112 is provided in its inner end with an inwardly declined portion 112a mounting a packing ring 113 with said laminated circular ring 111. Said packing ring 113 may be made of rubber or a synthetic resin and is adapted to seal a clearance 114 between said nozzle cylinder 106 and said inner annular insert 112. Represented by numeral 1 15 is a resilient member tightly and integrally inserted into a downwardly opened cave 116 formed on a bottom end of said nozzle cylinder 106. Said resilient member, preferably made of rubber, is mounted in its normal position on a convex section 117 extruding upwardly from a central portion of a transverse wall 118 provided in said main outer cylindrical body 102 to shut off a through-bore 119 formed in said transverse wall 118 of said main outer cylindrical body 102 in its rest position. Arranged under said transverse wall 118 is an absorbent material 120 which may be made of sponge or the like and which is surrounded with mesh screens 121 on both upper and lower sides thereof.

Consequently, said absorbent material 120 abuts through one of said mesh screens 121 against a tip portion 122a of an operating section 122. Said operating section 122 is formed with a central through-bore 122b longitudinally extending over its full length thereof and rigidly connected to a regulating tubular means 123 in the downward position 122C thereof. Said regulating tubular means 123, in rigid connection with said operating section 122, has a portion 124 threaded so as to engage with threads 125 of said main outer cylindrical body 102. Accordingly, said regulating tubular means 123 may be rotated to some predetermined extent. Additionally, said regulating tubular means 123 extends downwardly beyond said inner threaded ring 105; provided to fix said main outer cylindrical body 102 to said upper and bottom walls 1010, 101b of said fuel reservoir tank 101, mentioned above; and accommodates a valve member 126 provided telescopically therein. The said regulating tubular means also 123 has on the inner side thereof a boss 127 to seat a packing 128 which is in a groove 129 formed on the confines of said valve member 126. Said packing 128 is normally seated against said boss 127 of said regulating tubular means 123 in order to seal the communication between said fuel reservoir tank 101 and the atmosphere. The abovementioned valve member has two portions 130, 131, one of which extends in an inward direction to form a seat 130a for a spring 132, interposed between said operating section 122 and said seat 130a of said valve member 126, to urge said valve member 126 to its outward direction until said packing 128 is brought into its normal position on said seat 127. The other portion 131 extends in an outward direction in an opening 133 defined by said regulating tubular means 123. Fortion 131 is adapted to abut a connecting tube (not shown) of a refill gas container. When said valve member 126 is compelled against the action of said spring 132 into its upper position by application of said connecting tube (not shown), the gas in said refill gas container enters said fuel reservoir tank 101 through a second side aperture 135 made on said main outer cylindrical body 102 near to a first side aperture 134 of said regulating tubular means 123. On the other hand, formed on an upper portion above said second aperture 135 of said main outer cylindrical body 102 is a third aperture 136 adapted to make communication between said fuel reservoir tank 101 and a chamber wadded with said absorbent material 120. Said third side aperture 136 is covered with a material 137 which is made of sponge, a synthetic resin or the like. Said material 137 stores the fuel gas therein to supply a constant quantity of the fuel gas through said third side aperture 136 to said absorbent material 120 arranged under said transverse wall 118 of said main outer cylindrical body 102. Shown by numeral 138 is a gasket which serves to positively seal the communication between the atmosphere and said fuel reservoir tank 101.

In operation of the abovementioned combined refill and burner valve, the gas fuel stored in a fuel reservoir tank 101 is emitted from an axial bore 107 through said through-bore 119 upon release of the engagement between said resilient member 115 and said convex section 117 via upward movement of said nozzle cylinder 106 by means of a well-known nozzle actuating member (not shown). As well seen, gas emission is effected by lifting action due to means relevant with said nozzle actuating member (not shown) since said nozzle cylinder 106 is in its rest position depressed downwardly to contact with said convex section 117 under the influence of said spring 1 10. Thus, this differs from the structures shown by the first embodiment according to the present invention.

When an adjustment of the height of the flame is desired, the flame is conveniently controlled by the users hand. The gas fuel that will be discharged through said axial bore 107 of said nozzle cylinder 106 always passes through said absorbent material 120. Said regulating tubular means 123 is tumable in threaded engagement with said main outer cylindrical body 102. Consequently, turned to a clockwise direction, said tip portion 122a of said operating section 122 compresses said absorbent material to decrease the rate of the gas fuel flowing through said absorbent material 120 and the height of the flame is positively lowered. Turned in the opposite direction, said tip portion 122a of said operating section 122 backs off from its initial position, and the density of said absorbent material 120 is lowered with the resultant flame being higher than before.

Further when said fuel reservoir tank 101 must be charged with gas from said fuel refill container, said connecting tube of said fuel refill container is applied to said opening 133. Said connecting tube of said fuel refill container contacts directly with said portion 131 of said valve member 126 to move said valve member 126 from its normal position in sealing relation with said boss 127 to its upper, open position against an action of said spring 132. When said valve member 126 is opened, the fuel gas stored in said fuel refill container flows into said fuel reservoir tank 101 via said first side aperture 134 of said regulating tubular means 123 and secondly through said second side aperture of said main outer cylindrical body 102.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it is contemplated that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter comprising, in combination,

a. a main outer cylindrical body secured to the upper and lower walls of a fuel reservoir tank, said main outer cylindrical body having an axially-hollow interior and a transverse opening communicating between said fuel reservoir tank and said axiallyhollow interior;

. a fuel discharge nozzle mounted on the upper portion of said main outer cylindrical body, adapted to emit fuel communicated through said axiallyhollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body;

. an adjusting member positioned in the axially-hollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body between said transverse opening and said fuel discharge nozzle, adaptable to change the amount of fuel communicated to said fuel discharge nozzle;

. an inner operating body arranged in said axiallyhollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body in resilient contact with the lower side of said adjusting member and in rotably threaded engagement with said main outer cylindrical body, having a socket on the lower portion thereof and a transverse aperture therein communicating between said socket and said axially-hollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body;

. a valve member slidably placed in said socket of said inner operating body, having upper and lower positions and adapted to permit refueling of said lighter; and

f. a spring interposed in said inner operating body to force said valve member to said lower position.

2. a valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter comprising, in combination,

a. a main outer, axially-hollow cylindrical body tightly secured by upper and lower walls of a fuel reservoir tank, said main outer cylindrical body having thereon an opening for affording open communication between said fuel reservoir tank and the hollow inner side of said main outer cylindrical body;

. a fuel discharge nozzle mounted on the upper portion of said main outer cylindrical body and adapted to communicate with said inner side of said main outer cylindrical body.

c. an adjusting member provided in a middle section of the axially-hollow inner side of said main outer cylindrical body;

. an inner operating body being in resilient contact with said adjusting member and being in rotatably threaded engagement with said main outer cylin drical body; said inner operating body formed with a socket therein and an aperture thereon for connecting said socket with said axially-hollow inner side of said main outer cylindrical body;

e. a valve member movably arranged in said socket of said inner operating body adapted to permit refueling of the lighter.

f. a spring interposed in said inner operating body to urge said valve member to the outward direction thereof.

3. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 2, wherein said main outer cylindrical body comprises:

a. a transverse wall provided under said fuel discharge nozzle having a bore connecting said fuel discharge nozzle with said opening of said main outer cylindrical body; and

b. a sponge rubber arranged around said opening of said main outer cylindrical body.

4. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 2, wherein said inner operating body comprises:

a. an operating section being in contact with the lower side of said adjusting member; and

b. regulating means, having an axially-hollow interior, which is in rigid engagement with said operating section at the upper portion thereof and in rotatably threaded engagement with said main outer cylindrical body.

5. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 4, wherein said operating section includes an axial through-bore for communicating said axially-hollow interior of said regulating means with 8 2 32122 t ir t ig ih a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting member is made of an absorbent material having mesh screens on upper and lower sides thereof. 

1. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter comprising, in combination, a. a main outer cylindrical body secured to the upper and lower walls of a fuel reservoir tank, said main outer cylindrical body having an axially-hollow interior and a transverse opening communicating between said fuel reservoir tank and said axially-hollow interior; b. a fuel discharge nozzle mounted on the upper portion of said main outer cylindrical body, adapted to emit fuel communicated through said axially-hollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body; c. an adjusting member positioned in the axially-hollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body between said transverse opening and said fuel discharge nozzle, adaptable to change the amount of fuel communicated to said fuel discharge nozzle; d. an inner operating body arranged in said axially-hollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body in resilient contact with the lower side of said adjusting member and in rotably threaded engagement with said main outer cylindrical body, having a socket on the lower portion thereof and a transverse aperture therein communicating between said socket and said axially-hollow interior of said main outer cylindrical body; e. a valve member slidably placed in said socket of said inner operating body, having upper and lower positions and adapted to permit refueling of said lighter; and f. a spring interposed in said inner operating body to force said valve member to said lower position.
 2. a valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter comprising, in combination, a. a main outer, axially-hollow cylindrical body tightly secured by upper and lower walls of a fuel reservoir tank, said main outer cylindrical body having thereon an opening for affording open communication between said fuel reservoir tank and the hollow inner side of said main outer cylindrical body; b. a fuel discharge nozzle mounted on the upper portion of said main outer cylindrical body and adapted to communicate with said inner side of said main outer cylindrical body. c. an adjusting member provided in a middle section of the axially-hollow inner side of said main outer cylindrical body; d. an inner operating body being in resilient contact with said adjusting member and being in rotatably threaded engagement with said main outer cylindrical body; said inner operating body formed with a socket therein and an aperture thereon for connecting said socket with said axially-hollow inner side of said main outer cylindrical body; e. a valve member movably arranged in said socket of said inner operating body adapted to permit refueling of the lighter. f. a spring interposed in said inner operating body to urge said valve member to the outward direction thereof.
 3. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 2, wherein said main outer cylindrical body comprises: a. a transverse wall provided under said fuel discharge nozzle having a bore connecting said fuel discharge nozzle with said opening of said main outer cylindrical body; and b. a sponge rubber arranged around said opening of said main outer cylindrical body.
 4. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 2, wherein said inner operating body comprises: a. an operating section being in contact with the lower side of said adjusting member; and b. regulating means, having an axially-hollow interior, which is in rigid engagement with said operating section at the upper portion thereof and in rotatably threaded engagement with said main outer cylindrical body.
 5. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 4, wherein said operating section includes an axial through-bore for communicating said axially-hollow interior of said regulating means with said adjusting member.
 6. A valve for use in a gas fueled cigarette lighter according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting member is made of an absorbent material having mesh screens on upper and lower sides thereof. 